Re: Off topic question, Dioscorea sp.!

From: Aroideae at aol.com on 2001.12.29 at 18:25:42(7989) dear dean and julius, the florida "air yam" is dioscorea bulbifera Linnaeus and is an introduced tropical species. according to my book, "florida wildflowers and roadside plants" by bell and taylor, it does not flower and reproduces vegetatively by means of the aerial tubers which are edible when cooked. it's a terrible weed here and covers many of the trees along my back pasture, here in central florida. lynn +More Julius - Not sure which species you mean. If you're referring to the native Dioscorea villosa, yes, it's edible, but probably not in portions comparable to how one might eat "regular" potatoes. Native Americans both ate it and used the dried roots medicinally (gastrointestinal ailments and labour pains). According to the 'PDR for Herbal Medicines,' you should avoid eating it if you're taking supplemental estrogen. ;-) If you mean Dioscorea batatas (D. opposita) -- a/k/a cinnamon yam, Chinese yam, Shan Yao -- which I *think* is the one commonly grown as the "air potato" houseplant, the tubers are totally edible, grown as a food crop throughout the Philippines and elsewhere. When grown in the ground the little tubers can grow up to 3' long. I have it growing out in the yard, but haven't dug up any tubers to measure them (I grow it as an ornamental for the benefit/dismay of the "That can't be hardy!" people). Apparently it has cinnamon-scented flowers, hence the common name, but I've yet to see flowers here in Michigan. Dean

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